Aucklanders a happy bunch

Survey: Quality of city life viewed positively

WYNYARD QUARTER: One of the areas that has seen extensive redevelopment in recent times.

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Aucklanders are a happy bunch, with those living on Waiheke Island and Great Barrier Island the most happy with their quality of life.

The findings come as part of the nationwide 2012 Quality of Life survey, released today, which show more than three-quarters of Aucklanders rate their quality of life positively.

The main issue Aucklanders raised was dangerous driving, but we did not seem to be fazed by vandalism, graffiti, alcohol or drugs in our communities.

The survey asked 5000 people aged 18 years and over living in four of the country's largest urban areas, including 2593 from Auckland, what they thought of their quality of life.

It found that 79 per cent of Aucklanders rated their overall quality of life positively, with 18 per cent rating it extremely good and 61 per cent rating it good.

Within the Auckland region there were differences depending on where you lived and it appears being an island dweller is the way to go.

Ninety six percent of Waiheke and Great Barrier Island residents rated their quality of life as extremely good or good. In the Henderson-Massey local board area 71 per cent rated it in the same bracket.

People living in Otara-Papatoetoe felt their quality of life had increased more than anywhere else in Auckland in the previous 12 months.

Compared to other cities, Aucklanders were less likely to rate vandalism and graffiti as a problem in their local area. They were also less likely to have viewed alcohol or drugs as a problem in the past year.

Dangerous driving was the most common issue for Aucklanders in their local area with 64 per cent of residents rating this as a problem.

Auckland Council senior researcher Alison Reid said the results were a "rich source of data" which showed what issues were important across different communities.

"As Auckland's population grows and changes, it is vital that we monitor how Aucklanders themselves are feeling, and what social issues may be emerging."

* All sample surveys are subject to sampling error, and the Auckland wide results are subject to a margin of error of plus or minus 1.9% at the 95% confidence level.